SECTION : Magnetic Field Configurations    

Energy in solar flares comes from the abrupt release of magnetic energy that has built up over a long time into energetic particles and plasma heating. This release takes place via a process called magnetic merging, or magnetic annihilation. In this process, magnetic energy flows in horizontally from the sides, the field lines "reconnect", and then energy in the form of energetic particles or accelerated plasma flows vertically upwards and downwards.